Apparatus for river control



Sept. 27, 1927. E BIGNELL APPARATUS FOR azvzn CONTROL Filed Feb. 16. 1925 fig. 20

1N ZENTOR fd/x a/d .Byme/l.

A TTORNE Y Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATE EDWARD fBIeNnLn, 0F LI-Noonn; seam n;

Arr' mATUs FOR Brynn. conrnon Application filedFebrnary This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for river control.

The primary object of the invention is to increase the scour of the natural waters of the stream against the soilto loosen it and carry itfaway by attrition, this being effective to enlarge channels, remove sand bars and deepen streams. i

It is well known that by decreasing the velocity of the'flow of streams, sand, silt,

and other soil carried by the streams in suspension will be deposited by precipitation so thatsand bars are built up 'on'thebed of the streams and revetments are sometimes formed by this method,- and it is also known that swift running' streams carry along the sand, silt and other soil and where the velocity is sufficient the streams cut their own channels. So my invention contemplates the method, as well as an apparatus, for increasing the normal'flfiow of streams "at local points so that the increased velocity of the waters directed against the soil will agltate the soil, pick up the particles and carry them along in suspension so that the $011 will be removed. In this way channels can be widened or deepened; sand bars can be undermined and removed by natural hydraulic process requiring no mechanism other than flow direction members which deflect the waters downwardly against the soil at increased velocity to increase the scour beyond that which would exist during the normal flow of the waters.

I have shown one embod1m-ent of an ap paratus for carrying out the invention and this will be specifically described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is aplan viewof a stream, a sand bar and an apparatus in position to carry out the invention a Fig. 2 is a'vertical, longitudinal, sectional .view through the stream. I

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the stream, and

Fig. 4 is a detailed, perspective view of one of the flow directional members.

The stream 1 is shown as having a sand bar 2 located therein. Submerged in the bed 3 of the stream below the line of scour is a pile 4 to which is fastened a cable 5. The cable may settle into the bed of the stream and it constitutes a retainer or an chorage for a plurality of substantially carrying away the soil.

1e, i925. Serial normals.-

aligning flow directional members 6 Each member is shown'as comprising a flat, buoyant or floatable body with an'upstanding front end 7 to direct the waters of the stream downwardly against the soil. vEach member is anchored to the cable 5 by' flexible connec tions 8 and 9 in such a manner that-the directional members will float slightly above the bed of-the stream, about four inches, so that the waters coming from up-streamwill strike the bafiie or "end 7 andv be "directed downwardly against the soil agitating it and loosening it by attrition. When the waters strike. thebafiie 7 they will tend topileup so that 'ripples-"oreddy currents will be formed and-as the waters tend to relieve the pressure against the baflies the velocity of the streamumder "the members 6 will be increased 1 thereby -.increasing -"the scourand Some sand and silt may tend to accumulate upon the members'6 so I have'provided the members 6 with perforations or openings l0 and I recommend similar openings 11 in the baflies 7 so that some of the water may pass through the perforations l1 and clear ofl accumulations from the members 6.

It is not desirable to have the cable 5 submerged too deeply in the soil so I recommend providing a float 12 near the head of the cable, the float 12 being connected to the cable by a flexible connection 13. The number of floats, used may depend upon circumstances, although ordinarily one of suflicient proportion will be adequate.

The length of the cable will be whatever is desired. For example, it may extend about a.

mile down the stream and it may have the requisite number of members 6 anchored to it. The down stream end of the cable may pass under a pulley 14 attached by a flexible connection to a pile submerged in the soil so that the down stream end 15 of the cable may pass under the pulley and be fastened around a pile 16, and it will be observed that the pulley 14 and the pile 16 constitute a slack take up for the down stream end of the cable 5. The purpose of employing the pulley is to provide a convenient means for hauling in the down stream end of the cable to approach a straight line passing through thepile 4 as the removal of the soil continues yond the normal depth, or to progressively remove the sand bar 2, it being observed from the illustration that as the sand bar 2 is cut away the members 6 should be moved closer to the shore line, that is further away from the opposite side of the stream until the cable assumes substantially a straight, longitudinal line, then if desired or necessary the pile 4: or another pile may be driven at a point further inward until the sand bar is entirely removed.

While I recommend that the construction of the flow directional members 6 be flat and that they may be maintained insubstantial horizontal positions asshown,v I do not wish to be limited to the particular form of flow member illustrated in Fig. 4: because other formsmay be employed. For example, in some cases I may make rafts of brush and treesand submerge them slightly above the bed of the stream. Other forms may suggest themselves, but ordinarily I recommend the form illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

From the foregoing-it will be apparent that by the method described, that is by increasin g the velocity of the normal flow of that-portion-of the stream contacting with the soil tobe removed to carry it away by the stream, the channels may be widened or deepened or sand bars removed by the natural waters'of the stream without any expense other than the installation of the apparatus designed "for carrying out the method.

'Wh at Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. An apparatus Ior removing soil from streams, comprising a cable, means for anchoring the u'p-stream end of the cable, a slack take up at the down stream end of the cable, and means carried by the cable and free to follow the movable portions of the cable to cause natural waters ofthe stream to be deflected downward to agitate the soil and carry it away with the flowing stream.

2. An apparatus of the character de-f scribed,--, comprising a cable anchored to lie lengthwise in astream, and a buoyant, flat body anchored to intermediate portions of the cable and having a deflector extending upwardly and forwardly from its up-stream ed e;

An apparatus" of the character described, comprisin a cable anchored at its ends to lie longituc inally in a stream, a pluralit-y of directional members each comprising -a-- flat, apertured, buoyant body, anchored to the cable and havin'gan: upwardly and forwardly inclined body at its up-stream edge, and a float attached tofth'e cable near its up-stream end; a

In testimony whereof Iafiix my si' nature'. EDWARD BIGNfiELL. 

